Recaps

Xinhai bought a Deep Sea Scale at Slateport Market after Gardevoir sensed its gentle energy, but determined it could not help Feebas evolve. He then treated Eevee and Gardevoir to Berry drinks and bought enough of every flavor for all his Pokémon.

• Xinhai bought a pink scale, shell bracelet, and conch shell from a market stall owner for four hundred League Coins, paying five hundred.
• Xinhai identified the pink item as a Deep Sea Scale that could evolve Clamperl into Gorebyss, and explained that it would not help Feebas evolve.
• Xinhai reassured Eevee and continued exploring Slateport Market with Eevee and Gardevoir.
• Xinhai ordered Berry juices from the Ocean and Berry Dew stall, and Eevee and Gardevoir enjoyed their drinks.
• Xinhai ordered seven cups of every juice flavor to bring back for his Pokémon, and the proprietress packed them in insulated bags.

Xinhai bought Berry juice, Pokéblocks, and Incense for his companions before entering Slateport City's Battle Tent to try its Rental Mode challenge. After choosing Golbat, Magneton, and Poliwag from a random pool, he headed to Field Two as the battle was about to begin.

• Xinhai bought assorted Berry juice and Pokéblocks for his companions, then purchased three portions of Basic Calming Incense after the specialty shop had sold out of its premium Incense.
• Back at the Pokémon Center, Xinhai lit Incense, shared Berry juice with his companions, and spent the evening on dinner, training, and study.
• The next morning, Xinhai returned to the Incense shop and bought the special Incense he had wanted before heading to the Battle Tent.
• Xinhai paid to enter Rental Mode, reviewed the six randomly assigned Pokémon, and chose Golbat, Magneton, and Poliwag for his team.
• Xinhai followed the staff member's directions to Field Two, where the screen displayed his upcoming battle and his Pokédex showed information about his selected Pokémon.

Xinhai Bai Mu entered a rental Pokémon battle and defeated reigning champion Agong with Golbat, earning his first win. In his next match, he sent out Poliwag against a trainer’s Swalot, and the battle continued as Poliwag closed in using Double Team.

• Xinhai Bai Mu watched several rental battles to study their pace and tactics before entering the arena.
• Xinhai sent out Golbat against Agong’s Machoke and dodged Vacuum Wave with Supersonic.
• Golbat used Swift and Air Qi Slash to defeat Machoke, ending Agong’s winning streak and giving Xinhai one win.
• Xinhai’s next opponent sent out Swalot, which attacked Poliwag with Sludge.
• Poliwag used Double Team to evade the Sludge and close in, so the opponent ordered Swalot to use Poison Gas.

Xinhai’s Poliwag defeated Swalot despite being poisoned, giving him his second consecutive victory. He began his third battle against Lina’s Pidgeotto with Golbat, and the opening exchange started with Pidgeotto’s Quick Attack and Golbat’s Swift.

• Swalot used Poison Gas, but Poliwag cleared a path with Bubble Beam and broke through.
• Xinhai had Poliwag attack Swalot’s Acid Armor form with Mud Shot, then order Double Team when Swalot launched Gunk Shot.
• Gunk Shot poisoned Poliwag, but Xinhai seized Swalot’s weakened state and had Poliwag defeat it with a full-powered Bubble Beam.
• Xinhai sent Poliwag for emergency detoxification after the win, then entered his third battle against Lina with Golbat.
• Lina opened with Pidgeotto’s Quick Attack, while Xinhai ordered Golbat to rise and fire Swift.

Xinhai Bai Mu’s Golbat defeated Lina’s Pidgeotto, earning him three consecutive victories in the Battle Tent. He declined to continue challenging and collected fifty thousand League Coins and his participation items.

• Xinhai’s Golbat countered Pidgeotto’s attacks with Confuse Ray, Air Slash, Swift, and Wing Attack, defeating it.
• The referee announced that Xinhai had achieved three consecutive victories and earned a base prize of fifty thousand League Coins.
• Xinhai chose to end the challenge rather than risk continuing for larger rewards.
• Xinhai returned the remaining Poké Balls and magnetic card, then collected his prize money, participation certificate, and souvenir.

After ending his Battle Tent challenge with his winnings secured, Xinhai weighed his team’s readiness for the Battle Frontier and focused on strengthening them first. He called his mother from Slateport City, then invited his partners to explore the city during their free afternoon.

• Xinhai collected his League Coins and souvenirs, checked on the cured Poliwag, and left the Battle Tent with Gardevoir and Eevee.
• Xinhai explained that he was stopping the challenge rather than risk losing his winnings with tired, poorly coordinated rental Pokémon.
• Xinhai reflected on the Battle Frontier and decided to follow his training plan before seeking out its powerful Frontier Brains.
• Xinhai prepared lunch for his partners and video-called his mother Nami, who asked about his journey and reminded him to stay safe.
• After the call, Xinhai suggested that his partners visit Slateport City’s museum or walk along the beach.

Xinhai visited Slateport City’s Oceanic Museum and seaside promenade with Eevee and Gardevoir before returning to the Battle Tent to pursue a Full Restore. After two four-win streaks ended against opponents with advantageous Pokémon, he suspected the matchmaking was rigged and agreed to follow a shady man who claimed to be selling a stolen Full Restore.

• Xinhai explored the Oceanic Museum with Eevee and Gardevoir, then watched Eevee play on the beach and talked about bringing Feebas there after she evolved.
• Xinhai entered the Battle Tent seeking six consecutive wins, but Pikachu defeated Fearow in his fourth match after a four-win streak.
• Xinhai tried again, reached his fourth match, and lost when Noctowl defeated Arbok with Psychic.
• Xinhai suspected the Battle Tent was targeting him with advantageous opponents, and a shifty man offered him a Full Restore for eighty thousand.
• The man claimed the Full Restore came from someone inside the Battle Tent, and Xinhai agreed to inspect it at a quiet nearby location before paying.

Xinhai uncovered a scheme inside the Battle Tent and used Gardevoir to interrogate the man selling him a Full Restore. After leaving with the item, he returned to the Pokémon Center, prepared to attend the Slateport City Pokémon Contest, and went to sleep with his partners.

• Xinhai confirmed the Full Restore was genuine and paid the Battle Tent employee eighty thousand League Coins.
• Gardevoir hypnotized the employee, who revealed that his cousin and other Battle Tent higher-ups were driving promising challengers away, with the Shadow Assault Team's captain backing them.
• Xinhai had Gardevoir plant a suggestion to blur the employee's memories, then left with the Full Restore.
• Xinhai told his partners they would attend the Slateport City Pokémon Contest the next day, then reviewed his rental battles and studied breeder knowledge.
• Xinhai tucked the sleepy Eevee into bed, settled his other partners for the night, and fell asleep.

Xinhai attended the opening of the Slateport City Pokémon Contest, where Vivian introduced the judges and explained the rules. The first contestant, Akane, began her Appeal Performance with Skitty.

• Xinhai entered the contest hall with Eevee and Gardevoir as the crowd gathered for the opening.
• Vivian introduced judges Mr. Contesta, Mr. Sukizo, Nurse Joy, and Wallace, a Top Coordinator from Sootopolis City.
• Vivian explained that contestants would first perform appeals, with the top sixteen advancing to Contest Battles for a Slateport Ribbon Medal and 200,000 League Coins.
• Akane from Mauville City opened the contest by having Skitty use Charm and Swift to create a sparkling ring of stars around itself.

Xinhai watched the Pokémon Coordinators showcase artistic performances before Suzuki Ai and her Gardevoir earned the highest score so far. Their precise move control led Xinhai to suspect that Ai’s influential family had arranged private, high-level training for her.

• Whitney and Skitty opened the contest with a dazzling combination of Charm and Swift, earning praise from the judges.
• Several Coordinators performed with their Pokémon as Xinhai and his companions watched and discussed the artistic approach to moves.
• Suzuki Ai, whom Xinhai had faced in the Devon Challenge, took the stage with her male Gardevoir and performed with Magical Leaf and Disarming Voice.
• The judges awarded Ai and Gardevoir 39.5 points, temporarily putting them in first place.
• Xinhai wondered how Ai had gained such refined control and concluded that her family may have hired a powerful private tutor.

Suzuki Ai and Gardevoir advanced through the Contest Battle rounds to face Zhen Yi and Ninetales in the championship match. Gardevoir turned Ninetales's Flamethrower into a counterattack, then unleashed Psychic as Ninetales answered with Overheat, and the two attacks collided in a massive explosion.

• Suzuki Ai and Gardevoir won their battles and advanced to the championship match against Zhen Yi and Ninetales.
• Zhen Yi opened the match with Flamethrower, but Gardevoir blocked it with Confusion and fused the flames with Mystical Fire to counterattack.
• Ninetales escaped the mixed flames with Quick Attack, though she was scorched and hurt by their psychic effects.
• Suzuki Ai ordered Gardevoir to use Psychic, and Zhen Yi told Ninetales to meet the attack with Overheat.
• Gardevoir's Psychic and Ninetales's Overheat collided in a massive explosion that shook the venue.

Suzuki Ai and Gardevoir won the Slateport City Pokémon Contest Battle, and Wallace presented Ai with the Ribbon Medal before beginning his promised closing performance. Wallace and Milotic captivated the venue with a dazzling display, leaving Xinhai stunned by Milotic’s precise energy control.

• Suzuki Ai and Gardevoir defeated Ninetales, and the judges declared them the winners of the Contest Battle.
• Contesta presented Suzuki Ai with a check for two hundred thousand League Coins, and Wallace awarded her the Slateport Ribbon Medal.
• Vivian announced that Wallace would give a closing performance, and a water stage rose as Xinhai checked that Feebas could see from its Poké Ball.
• Wallace summoned Milotic onto the water stage and instructed it to use Safeguard.
• Milotic combined its voice, Safeguard, and the surrounding mist into a captivating display that amazed Eevee and Gardevoir and shocked Xinhai.

Wallace and Milotic dazzled the Slateport City Pokémon Contest audience with a spectacular performance, inspiring Xinhai to believe Feebas could transform and shine too. After the show, Suzuki Ai approached Xinhai, and her male Gardevoir’s open admiration for Xinhai’s Gardevoir made the conversation tense.

• Wallace and Milotic combined Aqua Ring, Ice Beam, and Twister in a breathtaking finale that earned thunderous applause.
• Xinhai reassured Eevee that Feebas could undergo its own transformation if they worked hard together, and Gardevoir agreed.
• Suzuki Ai congratulated Xinhai after the contest and asked to call him by his first name.
• Suzuki Ai’s male Gardevoir kept gazing at Xinhai’s Gardevoir, who moved closer to Xinhai in discomfort.
• Suzuki Ai praised Xinhai’s Gardevoir’s Inner Focus and suggested that the two Gardevoir could interact and learn from each other.

After leaving the Pokémon Contest, Xinhai comforted Gardevoir and resolved to grow stronger so he could protect his partners. The group rested overnight in Slateport City, then set out early the next morning for Mauville City.

• Xinhai declined Suzuki Ai's invitation and left the contest with Eevee and Gardevoir.
• Suzuki Ai learned that her Gardevoir had been drawn to the purity and warmth of Xinhai's Gardevoir, and she decided they might try again to befriend them later.
• Xinhai reassured Gardevoir that they could avoid Suzuki Ai and her Gardevoir, then resolved to become stronger to protect his partners.
• Xinhai told his partners they would return to Mauville City, gave them massages, and read them part of a story before they fell asleep.
• Xinhai checked out of the Pokémon Center at dawn and rode with Eevee and Gardevoir along Route 110 toward Mauville City.

Xinhai traveled from Mauville City to Verdanturf Town with Eevee and Gardevoir, eagerly anticipating his reunion with his family. He arrived home and was greeted by Yantai’s Linoone charging toward him.

• Xinhai rode to Mauville City, ate lunch, then boarded a bus to Verdanturf Town.
• On the bus, Eevee and Gardevoir napped while Xinhai looked forward to seeing his parents again.
• Xinhai woke his companions as the bus approached Verdanturf Town and pointed out its fields and flowers.
• Xinhai arrived in town and walked along familiar streets, greeting townspeople on his way home.
• At the family home, Yantai’s Linoone recognized Xinhai and rushed toward him as Xinhai opened his arms to greet it.

Xinhai returned home and reunited with his mother, Nami, and the Pokémon waiting for him. Nami welcomed his partners as her own children, and the family prepared to meet Golem and share a meal once Xinhai’s father returned.

• Linoone enthusiastically greeted Xinhai, and Eevee startled by their sudden pounce before settling on Xinhai’s shoulder.
• Nami welcomed Xinhai, Eevee, and Gardevoir home, then invited Xinhai to introduce his other partners.
• Xinhai released Blaziken, Linoone, Mightyena, and Sandile, and Nami warmly greeted each of them as family.
• Xinhai brought out Feebas in a portable fish tank, and Nami reassured Feebas that they could live peacefully at home.
• Xinhai explained that Golem would be easier to meet outdoors, and Nami agreed to introduce them when Xinhai’s father returned.
• Nami went to check on the stew and pastries while Xinhai and his Pokémon looked forward to the family meal.

Xinhai reunited with his parents at home, and the family and their Pokémon gathered for a lavish celebratory dinner. As the meal began, Gardevoir and Eevee offered to serve the others so Xinhai could eat and talk with his parents.

• Xinhai fed Pokémon biscuits to his partners while chatting with Mother Nami as she prepared dinner.
• Father Yantai returned home and warmly greeted Xinhai and the Pokémon, praising their growth and Blaziken’s evolution.
• Mother Nami finished a large feast, and the family arranged their Pokémon around the dining table.
• Father Yantai released Rapidash and Xinhai released Quagsire before everyone began eating.
• Gardevoir and Eevee offered to serve the Pokémon, letting Xinhai focus on his meal and time with his parents.

Xinhai reunited with his parents in Verdanturf Town, shared news of his travels, and introduced them to Alolan Golem. He settled his Pokémon into the family home and planned a few days of lighter training and rest.

• Gardevoir used its psychic powers to serve dinner as Xinhai told Nami and Yantai about his training and travels.
• After dinner, Xinhai led his parents into the yard and released Alolan Golem, which greeted them and ate its food.
• Yantai inspected Golem and confirmed its injuries had healed, while Xinhai credited Professor Birch.
• Nami showed Xinhai the clean room she had kept for him and an adjoining room for his companions.
• Xinhai reunited with his Pokémon in his bedroom and told them they would rest in Verdanturf Town while keeping up basic training.
• Xinhai arranged bedding for Blaziken, Mightyena, and Linoone in the adjoining room, where they settled in for the night.

Xinhai spent a peaceful night caring for his Pokémon at home, then woke late the next morning and began the day with Eevee and Sandile. After learning that Blaziken and the others had already eaten and started their chores or training, he went to prepare breakfast for Eevee and Sandile.

• Xinhai settled Eevee, Gardevoir, Sandile, and the other Pokémon for the night, gave them massages, and told them a story before bed.
• The next morning, Xinhai woke at 8:17 and found Eevee and Sandile still asleep while Gardevoir was away.
• Gardevoir brought warm water for Xinhai, Eevee, and Sandile, then Xinhai helped the two Pokémon brush their teeth.
• Xinhai learned that Blaziken had cleaned the living room and that Mightyena and Linoone were training outside with Dad's Linoone.
• Xinhai went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Eevee and Sandile.

Xinhai practiced Tai Chi and felt his Qi growing stronger before taking his Pokémon to help his mother Nami at her flower shop. He and his companions began moving and cleaning flowerpots for new Clear Roses.

• Xinhai finished breakfast, practiced three sets of Tai Chi, and estimated he might be ready to attempt the Three Gates by next year.
• Xinhai locked up the house and went with Eevee, Gardevoir, Blaziken, and Sandile to Nami's flower shop.
• Nami asked Xinhai to move dusty flowerpots from the back courtyard to the shop's display area.
• Blaziken carried two flowerpots, Gardevoir floated the others with Psychic, and Eevee and Sandile joined in to move smaller pots.

Xinhai and his Pokémon finished helping Mother Nami clean flowerpots, then set out to explore Verdanturf Town. At his old Pokémon School, Xinhai revisited a favorite garden and reflected on how much his life had changed before someone recognized him.

• Xinhai and his Pokémon cleaned the flowerpots while Mother Nami spoke with Granny Liu, who praised Xinhai and his partners.
• After sharing Berry drinks with his mother, Xinhai decided to take his Pokémon around town and promised to return for lunch.
• Xinhai led his partners to the Pokémon School he attended as a child, where the guard welcomed them inside.
• Xinhai showed his partners the quiet garden behind the school, and they explored its flowers, trees, and pond.
• As Xinhai reflected on his journey and his childhood dreams, someone behind him recognized him.

Xinhai reunited with his former teacher Ms. Ishihara, who told him about an upcoming Pokémon Breeder qualification examination in Mauville City. He decided to take the Beginner examination, bought equipment and ingredients to practice making Pokéblocks, and began preparing his first recipe at home.

• Xinhai met Ms. Ishihara, who praised his care for his Pokémon and told him that breeder examinations would be held in Mauville City in five days.
• Xinhai decided to prepare for the Beginner Breeder examination, focusing on practicing Pokéblock-making.
• Xinhai bought a basic Berry Blender, Berries, herbs, and finished Basic Energy Cubes to use as references.
• Xinhai set up the Berry Blender at home, found a recipe through the Joy family's online resource network, and asked Gardevoir to monitor the process with her Psychic abilities.
• Xinhai prepared and checked the ingredients for his first Pokéblock before beginning the recipe.

Xinhai attempted to make Pokéblocks with the Berry Blender, but a mistake during Centrifugal Purification left the finished blocks flawed. He recorded the problems and prepared to try again with his Pokémon’s encouragement.

• Xinhai crushed the ingredients in the recipe’s order, rinsed away residue, and extracted the mixture at the specified temperature and time.
• Xinhai pressed the speed control too hard during the second cycle of Centrifugal Purification, and Gardevoir warned him that active components were being stripped away.
• Xinhai corrected the machine’s speed and completed Concentration Fusion, Compression Shaping, and Pressurized Solidification.
• Xinhai collected three rough, dull orange-red Pokéblocks, and Eevee noticed their burnt smell.
• Xinhai identified the purification error and the resulting hollow, uneven blocks, recorded Gardevoir’s feedback, and took encouragement from Eevee and Blaziken.

Xinhai successfully made acceptable Pokéblocks with Gardevoir’s help, then spent several days training and preparing for the Breeder Examination. On the day before the exam, he said goodbye to his parents and packed to leave Verdanturf Town for Mauville City.

• Xinhai adjusted the centrifuging and heating process with Gardevoir’s feedback and produced three Pokéblocks that matched his purchased sample in quality.
• Over the following days, Xinhai trained with his partners, studied breeding techniques, practiced Pokéblock recipes, and battled Hatake, defeating him despite his Pokémon’s higher levels.
• Xinhai’s parents supported his preparations while he studied for the Breeder Examination, which was one day away.
• Xinhai told Nami and Yantai that he would travel to Mauville City to familiarize himself with the exam venue and continue his journey afterward.
• Xinhai packed his travel supplies with help from his partners and announced that it was time to leave.

Xinhai left Verdanturf Town with his Pokémon and traveled to Mauville City to take an exam. After arriving, he headed to the Pokémon Center, where a worried boy asked Nurse Joy to treat Pokémon injured in a Gym battle.

• Xinhai said farewell to Nami and Yantai, then boarded the bus with Eevee and Gardevoir.
• Xinhai and his Pokémon arrived in bustling Mauville City, and he rode his folding bicycle to the Pokémon Center.
• Xinhai recalled Gardevoir to her Poké Ball to avoid drawing attention in the crowded lobby and joined a service line with Eevee.
• A younger boy cut ahead of Xinhai and asked Nurse Joy to heal his Pokémon, which had been badly hurt in a Gym battle.
• Nurse Joy sent the boy's Poké Balls for treatment and told him to wait in the resting area.